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W Trek Express

Discover the most important Patagonia trek in 4 days

4 days
From

$700

4.5 (12 reviews)

Camping Sector Central

Torre Central

Refugio Chileno

Refugio Los Cuernos

Summary

Itinerary

What to bring

Reviews

FAQs

Summary

Itinerary

What to bring

Reviews

FAQs

W Trek Express tour information

Puerto Natales

4 days

Spanish / English

Starts

Puerto Natales (Bus transfer to Torres del Paine at 6:30 am)

Ends

Puerto Natales (Bus transfer from Sector Paine Grande at 6:30 pm)

Included

Entrance ticket to the Torres del Paine National Park
Bus transfer to and from Puerto Natales and Torres del Paine (round trip)
Catamaran Transfer from Paine Grande (across the lake Pehoé)
Accommodation 3 nights in Camping or Refugio
All meals included (Breakfast - Lunch Box - Dinner)
Trekking Mirador Base Torres
Trekking Sector Frances
Trekking Valle Frances
Trekking Glaciar Grey

*The camping includes a tent, sleeping bag, mattress and rain cover. All this will be ready when you arrive at the campsite and you will not have to carry it during the trekking.

Not included

Bilingual professional guide (available as an extra)
Other meals

Important information

Discounts available for travelers with Chilean nationality, check prices by sending an email to hello@howlanders.com

The order of the visits could be altered, but it will not affect the content of the program. The schedules of the tickets and transports could be subject to modifications.

SAFE ADVENTURE – Covid 19

This activity includes the appropriate protection measures to ensure your safety. In addition, our excursions are outdoor and in small groups to reduce the risk of contagion. Remember to follow the instructions of the staff during the development of the excursion.

Cancellation policy

Free cancellation! If you cancel 31 days before the start of the tour, you will receive 100% of the amount paid. Up to 15 days before the tour starts you can modify de starting date within the same season at no cost. After this time, no refunds will be given. In some cases, free date changes will be offered until April 2023. The cases to qualify for the change of dates are the following: 1- In the event of a situation of COVID19 re-emerging in Chile or the traveler's country of origin that implies the closure of borders, total quarantine, or cancellation of land and/or air transfers. 2- In the event of contagion of the traveler (presenting a medical certificate that proves it) If you do not request a change of dates or not show up at the beginning of the tour, no refunds or rescheduling will be made. Bookings are nominative and non-transferable

Briefing

This version of the W route is designed for travelers with less time to trek in Torres del Paine. The main difference is that on the first day you will start walking to the Base of the Towers lookout point. During the 4 day tour, you will enjoy one of the most impressive treks in all of South America, in which you will be able to delight in the majestic landscapes of Chilean Patagonia. This option is self-guided, so you will walk on your own along the perfectly defined trails and stay in different areas along the famous W.

The tour includes everything you need to enjoy this experience (transfers, accommodation, food, access...) you just have to decide if you want to stay at the campsite or refugio (recommended). The most important areas you will visit during this trek are Base Torres, Los Cuernos, Valle Francés, and the Mirador Glaciar Grey. In these areas, you will enjoy colossal mountains, deep blue glaciers and beautiful forests that seem to be taken from a fairy tale.

Find out what these days will be like next:

Tour itinerary

DAY 1 Puerto Natales - Mirador Base Torres (viewpoint)

Difficulty: High - 19,5 Km (8 - 10 hours) Initial altitude: 120 masl Maximum altitude: 870 masl Accommodation: Sector Central

Briefing

The day before the start of the trek in Torres del Paine, we will have a briefing at 5:00 p.m. in our offices. There they will explain you everything you need to know to carry out the tour. They will also give you all the tickets, permits and the welcome kit to Torres del Paine.

You will leave from Puerto Natales at 06:30 a.m. with the bus that will take us to Torres del Paine National Park. That same day, begins the trek to the Mirador Base Torres.

You will cross the Ascensio Valley until you reach a glacial moraine, that part of the road is made of stones and with a slope that will take you to the Torres Base Viewpoint. The descent is by the same route to the Central Sector, where you will have dinner and spend the night.

DAY 2 Trekking Sector Francés

Difficulty: Moderate - 13,5KM (4,5 - 6,5 hours) Cumulative altitude: 200 m Accommodation: Sector Cuernos o Francés

Lago Nordenskjöld - Cerro Almirante Nieto - Cuernos del Paine

Breakfast is served between 7:30 and 8:30 a.m. every day. When you finish your breakfast you can pick up your lunch-box which you can enjoy whenever you want.

You will surround the Nordenskjöld Lake, Almirante Nieto Hill and Cuernos del Paine, walking about 13.5 km and you will enjoy the views of these emblematic places such as hanging glaciers and spectacular lakes. Along the way, you will marvel at the unique vegetation and animals that this trek offers. When you arrive at the French Sector, you will find yourself in one of the most welcoming refuges of the route and in our opinion, with the best food!

DAY 3 Trekking Sector Cuernos/Francés

Difficulty: High - 17,5 Km (7 - 9 hours) Initial altitude: 120 masl Maximum altitude: 762 masl Accommodation: Sector Francés

Route to Camp Italiano

The day starts with a gentle walk to the Italian camp. We will be able to admire the landscapes offered by the forests of the French River Valley, walking approximately 2 km. The trek to the French viewpoint, where the impressive views of the emblematic mountains Paine Grande, Cathedral, Leaf, Mask, Sword, Shark Fin and North Horn will leave you speechless.

British viewpoint

At this point you decide. If you have started the route early and have the strength, you can continue to the British lookout point. This road is especially difficult because of the slope, but the wonderful views it offers make it worthwhile.

Once we have enjoyed the incredible landscape, we will return to the French Sector by the same route spending the night in the French Sector.

DAY 4 Trekking to sector Glaciar Grey - Navigation Lago Pehoé and return to Puerto Natales

Difficulty: High - 19 Km (6 - 8 hours) Initial altitude: 43 masl Maximum altitude: 313 masl

Lago Grey viewpoint

The last day, you will border the Cerro Paine Grande, being this point the highest of the Massif (3,050 m) and enjoying again the spectacular hanging glaciers. You will pass through Nirres, Coigües and Notros to reach the first viewpoint of Lake Grey where we will have one of the best views of this tour, the incredible Glacier Grey.

After enjoying such magnificent views, we will return to the Paine Grande Sector to board the catamaran at 6:30 p.m., which will take us to Pudeto. With the bus, you will arrive at Puerto Natales at about 09:30 p.m., thus ending this incredible adventure.

What to bring to W Trek Express

The weather in Torres del Paine is cold in the season from April to September, since this is the time of winter in the southern hemisphere. We recommend you to bring:

Passport + immigration form (given by the Immigration Officer upon arrival in Chile)
Warm clothes
Sunscreen
Sunglasses
Hat or cap
Water
Snacks
Camera
Cash (USD) since the area does not allow card payments and there are no exchange offices / ATMs

Where does the tour W Trek Express start

W Trek Express starts from Puerto Natales. If you are travelling from Santiago de Chile, the best option is to take a flight to Punta Arenas. From Punta Arenas, you can take a bus that is just 3:15 hours away and will bring you to the Puerto Natales bus station. Another very common starting point is El Calafate (Argentina), there are buses that connect this Argentinian city directly with Puerto Natales which is a 5 hours journey.

W Trek Express tour reviews with Howlanders

4.5
Overall rating

Accommodation

4.3

Transportation

4.6

Guide

4.4

Advice

4.6

Quality-price ratio

4.4

Vinicius Chimello · 25 de marzo de 2020

It was one of the greatest experiences I've ever had. The landscape is awesome and you get wow moments non-stop. The organisation from the Fantastico Sur team is really good. We got a great explanation of the track, a welcome kit and some nice tips. The "refugios" where you stay have a good infrastructure and are worm and welcoming. Generally you get hot water for baths until 10pm. The only thing I noticed is that those times they tell you for each trekk is just a bit insane to keep up. You need to really be in a fit shape or be a medium experinced trekker to make it. But nontheless it is really worth it.

Casey Bennett · 16 de marzo de 2020

The trek was absolutely stunning. The guide company had everything in order from the second we got there. The only thing I would say they could improve on are the box lunches but other than that the food was excellent

Evangelos Michelinakis · 5 de marzo de 2020

The W fast trek was awesome. Due to time limitations we missed the briefing the day before. Some info from briefing could be included in the toolkit we received because we were completely lost with info at the beginning. In overall the trek was amazing and the services very good. I would surely recommend the package to others despite being overpriced.

Gabriel Marois · 16 de febrero de 2020

Trek is awsome, lunch box are great except for the sandwiches... Bring some snacks, cafeteria staff at paine central are not professional, poor service. Camping was great in paine central and cuernos. Overall : great experience and bring hiking poles.

Questions & Answers

What are “refugios” like and why do you recommend them?

The “refugios” are like lodges in the Patagonia. They’re almost new, with spacious common areas to rest and have a drink. They all have a large dining room which is also used by travellers staying in camping sites. They also have a bar where travellers meet to chat and have a drink. Finally, the showers in the “refugios” are better and do not have timetables, as the showers in the campsites have a schedule for their usage.

Do I have a private room in the “refugios”?

No, the rooms in the “refugios” are shared with approximately 8 people. Each room have good beds with reading light and plug next to the bed.

What are the campsites like?

They are areas close to the “refugios”, in the middle of nature where you’ll find other travelers. Some tents are located in wooden structures while others are directly on a waterproof layer. They have their own bathrooms and showers (with limited hours) and a common kitchen, which you won't have to use, as the tour includes all the meals served in the "refugio's" dining room.

Do I have to carry my camping equipment during the tour?

No, the tents are installed in the campsites so when you arrive they will tell you which tent is assigned to you, which will already be set up and equipped with a mattress and sleeping bag.

Book W Trek Express

4 days from

$700

W Trek Express

Discover the most important Patagonia trek in 4 days